Game net mounting post



Nov.-27, 1962 P. J. BARNES GAME NET MOUNTING POST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1959 Ha I- 1 im-ml: l. mil

w wf fi IHIZ, m T? Nov 27, 1962 P. J BARNES GAME NET MOUNTING PGST 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10. 1959 IIIIIIIIIII United States Patent 3,065,964 GAME NET MOUNTINGPOST Paul J. Barnes, 875 Dahlia St., Denver, Colo. Filed Aug. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 832,506

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-29) This invention relates generally to athletic equipment for games which require nets, such as tennis, badminton and volley-ball and more particularly to apparatus for stretching and suspending such nets for play. A primary object of the invention is thus to provide a novel and improved mounting post and the associated supporting framework therefor for stretching and holding a game net in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mounting post-framework for holding a game net in place which includes an adjustable referees platform behind the post at an advantageous position which is especially desirable for tournament play.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mounting post framework for holding a game not in place which is especially adapted to be carried upon the wall of an indoor gymnasium, to outstand therefrom as a cantilevered structure when the net is in place and to be folded against the wall and out of the way when the net is not in use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in a game-net mounting-post a novel and improved net stretching and holding means which is adapted to pull and hold' the top and bottom net cables under a selected, balanced tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a game-net mounting-post a novel and improved elevational adjusting arrangement which permits a quick and easy change of the height of a net, such as is necessary when a different game is to be played or when different classes of players enter into a game.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a nove -and improved game-net mounting-post and a supporting framework therefor, which is a neat-appearing, easilyoperated, versatile, simply-constructed, low-cost, rugged and durable unit.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of elements and parts as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claims and illustrated in preferred embodiments in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a game-net mounting-post carried upon a cantilevered wall-suspended framework in a manner incorporating the principles of my invention, and illustrating further, a portion of a game net as being stretched and suspended by the post, with broken lines indicating the manner of suspending the net at a different level.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a wall bracket of a type suitable to carry the wall-suspended framework, as taken substantially from the indicated line 22 at FIGURE 1 but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 3 is, in perspective view, a fragmentary portion of the wall-suspended framework illustrating the referees platform in the frame, as viewed substantially from the indicated arrow 3 at FIGURE 1 but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the framework and post carried thereby, of the FIGURE 1 construction,

3,065,964 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 from the indicated arrow 5 at FIGURE 1 but on an enlarged scale but with certain framework portions being disconnected from the post.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail as viewed from the indicated line 66 at FIGURE 1 but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail as viewed from the indicated line 77 at FIGURE 1 but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale and somewhat diagrammatic in nature of an anchor post of a type which may be used in opposition with the unit illustrated at FIGURE 1 in a gymnasium to hold the opposite end of a net.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale and somewhat diagrammatic in nature, of an alternate framework which is adapted to be set in the middle of a gymnasium or playing field to carry a pair of gamenet mountingposts.

A variety of games are played with nets which are suspended across a playing field, such as tennis, badminton and volley ball. Game nets for this purpose are hung between upper and lower horizontally disposed cables which are stretched between suitable anchors or posts at each side of the playing field, and in such games, and especially in tournament games, it is essential that the cables be held at a proper elevation and stretched very tightly with a minimum of sag. It is immediately apparent that in each type of game, the net elevation must be different and, also, the net elevation will be different for different classes of players. For example, Where a net is used for volley ball play, the net height for men will be eight feet but the net height for Women will be only seven feet six inches. There is a need for improved net mounting posts which 'may be easily adjusted in height.

A second consideration involves the proper placing of an umpire or referee for a game. Where a tournament is being played, it is important that the umpire or referee be advantageously positioned, preferably at an end of the net where he can Watch the play directly above the net. In ordinary gymnasiums, where the net cables are attached to the opposing walls of the gymnasium, it is not feasible to do this with conventional equipment and the referee must either be improperly located in a balcony or on a make shift platform. The judging of a game is thus often at an inconvenient location.

With such considerations in mind, the present invention was conceived and developed, and comprises, in essence, an improved and simplified form of a game-net mounting-post which is adapted to hold and stretch the top and bottom net cables to any selected tension, with an arrangement for simple, quick height adjustments and, in the preferred embodiment, the mounting post is carried upon an improved framework adapted to be carried upon a gymnasium wall, to carry a suitable referees platform and to be folded against the wall out of the way when not in use.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in the unit illustrated at FIGURES 1 through 7, the improved mounting-p0st 10 is combined with a supporting framework 11, especially adapted for indoor gymnasiums. It is contemplated that a net 12, one end of which is shown in FIGURE 1, will be extended across the gymnasium floor with the horizontally disposed upper cable 13 and lower cable 14 including extensions 13' and 14' beyond the net I. which are affixed to posts at the opposite walls of the gymnasium. It is contemplated that at least one mounting-post-framework unit as illustrated at FIGURE 1 will be used to hold and stretch one end of the net cables 13 and 14' and that the other end of the net may be, .con-

. nected to a similar structure or may be connected'toa simple hooking post 15, such as illustrated at FIGURE 8, which is of any suitable form having height-adjusting features as hereinafter described.

Framework 11 is outstandingly cantilevered from a gymnasium wall W in the form of a triangular member when viewed in plan, with the mounting post at the outstanding apex end and with a referees platform 16 within this framework behind the post and in line With the net. It is contemplated that the walls of an ordinary gymnasium will be strong enough to support this framework and resist the lateral pull of the net thereon. If this is not so, suitable wall reinforcement such as vertical posts are easily installed. The framework 11 is formed by two beams, 17 and 18, swingably secured to the wall W in a manner somewhat similar to that of gates. These beams 17 and 18 are spaced apart on the wall W so that the outstanding ends of each beam come together to the apex point thus described when the apparatus is in use. However, the beams may be disconnected and each beam may be swung against the wall W and out of the way when the gymnasium floor is used for other purposes. In preferred construction, to accomplish this, the post 10 is affixed to the end of the beam 17, hereinafter called the carrier beam, and is adapted to be connected to the end of the beam 18, hereinafter called the connector beam.

Each beam 17 and 18 is formed of suitable pipe or bar material of strength and rigidity with the connections thereof being welded or otherwise fabricated together according to conventional practice. structurally, each beam includes an upper cord 19, a lower cord 20; a front vertical strut 21, a rear vertical strut 22 adjacent to the wall connection and suitable diagonal braces 23. Each upper and lower cord member of each beam extends rearwardly a short distance behind the rear vertical strut 22 to carry a depending pintle 24 which fits into a cup-type hinge socket 25 mounted upon the wall W. The hinge socket 25 is, in turn, mounted upon an elongated head of an anchor rod 26 which is attached to the wall in any suitable manner, for example it may extend through the wall W and be secured thereon by a bolt 27 and flanged washers 28, substantially as illustrated at FIGURE 2.

The platform 16 is carried between two front and two rear struts 29 which depend from the lower cord members 20 in a trapezoidal-like arrangement when the beams are connected together. Each strut 29 includes a series of orifices 30 for elevational adjustment of the platform and the platform is connected to the struts 29 by hooks 31 attached to the platform and extending to an orifice 30 in one of the struts. The platform 16 is a substantially rectangular grillwork of sufiicient width to hold a man, and one hook 31 is located at each forward corner adjacent to a strut 29. Since the rear struts 29 are spaced under the front struts and are wider than the platform, an extension bar 32 is carried at the rear edge of the platform to connect with the rear struts 29 by hooks 31. Whenever the apparatus is dismantled and the beam members are folded against the wall W, the platform is disconnected from the struts of one beam but may hang from the struts of the other beam against the wall and out of the way as in the manner illustrated at FIG- URE 4.

The mounting post 10 is preferably a standard channel bar having a central web 33 and side flanges 34. It is attached to the front vertical strut 21 of the carrier bar 17 as by Welding the strut 21 against a flange 34. A pair of clips 35 are welded to the opposing flange 34 and these clips are adapted to embracethe front vertical strut 21' of the connector beam 18. The strut 21 is secured to the clips by fastening bolts 36, which are turned into suitable orifices in the clips and in the strut 21, as in the manner illustrated at FIGURE. 6'.

The web 33 of the post 10 faces outwardly from the frame; Anorifice 37 extends through this web near the top of the post at the elevation of the upper cable 13 of the net and another orifice 37 extends through the lower portion of this post at the elevation of the lower cable 14 of the net and it is contemplated that the cable extensions 13' and 14' will be extended through these orifices 37 and 37 for holding the net in place. Shaft brackets 38 are suitably located at the rear face of this post 10 and a pulley 39 is mounted in these brackets 38 adjacent to the upper orifice 37. The cable extension 13 is turned downwardly over this pulley 39 to extend to the base of the post. A pair of pulleys are mounted in brackets 38 immediately above the lower orifice 37. The upper cable extension 13' is threaded about one pulley 40 and the lower cable extension 14' extending through the orifice 27 is threaded about the other pulley 4t) alongside the extension 13' so that both of these extensions 13' and 14' may be pulled together to tighten the net cables 13 and 14.

Net pulling jack means 42 are mounted to this post to pull the cable extensions 13 and 14' and a support arm 41 outstands rearwardly from the post 10 to hold such means. The lifting head of this jack is formed as a serrated shank 43 which is slideable on the body of the jack. A hook-clevis 44 is slideably adjustable on the shank 43 and the hook thereof connects with a cable eye 45 which interconnects with both cable extensions 13' and 14'. The net may therefore be mounted across the gymnasium and the net cables are stretched taut by first sliding the hook-clevis 44 on the shank 43 and then extending the shank by operation of the jack 42.

It is contemplated that this net 12 will be set at different heights for different games and different classes of players. For example, referring to the game of volley ball, the net will have to be set at a height of 8 feet for men players and a height of 7 feet 6 inches for women players. In accordance with my invention, a quick and easy height adjustment is provided for this by locating the orifices 37 and 37' at one selected net elevation, preferably the higher elevation, and by providing a pair of offsetting pulleys 46 and 47 at the outer face of the web 33. The pulleys 46 and 47 are set in tandem immediately below the orifice 37 and below the orifice 37'. Each cable extension 13' or 14' is adapted to be wrapped over the first pulley 46 and then under the second, the lower pulley 47 to the elevation of the underside of that pulley, as indicated in broken lines at FIGURE 1. The first pulleys 46 are mounted upon brackets 48 which are welded or otherwise secured to the outer face of the web 33, as illustrated at FIGURE 6. However, the second pulleys 47 are preferably mounted upon a single bracket 49, as illustrated at FIGURE 7. This permits the cable extension 13, or 14', to be laid over thefirst pulley 46, and then to be laid under the second pulley 47 without having to disconnect the extension from the net to thread it between brackets as would be necessary if a bracket were afiixed at each side of the pulley.

As above stated, a single net-holding unit such as illustrated at FIGURE 1 may be used to hold one end of a net, and the opposite end of the net may be held by a simple post 15, such as illustrated at FIGURE 8. Such a post may be secured to the wall W of the gymnasium as by brackets B and includes sets of hooks H which will correspond in elevation to elevations at which the net may be placed for different playing conditions as heretofore described.

FIGURE 9 shows a modified arrangement of the apparatus adapted for holding several nets in position and is essentially a platform 50 whereon several mountingposts 10, as heretofore described, are used. The platform is essentially conventional including leg 51, floor 52, a mounting ladder 53, and rail 54. Such a platform may belocated at the center of an arena or a large gymnasium floor or the like. The platform legs 51 will be secured to. the ground or to the gymnasium floor in any suitable manner to prevent unbalanced forces from moving or tilting it, as when only a single net is stretched therefrom. However, it is contemplated that a net will extend from each side of the platform and a post will be placed at each side thereof, with the rails 54 providing reinforcement for holding the posts.

The use of this apparatus is simple. Referring to the FIGURE 1 unit, whenever a net is to be stretched, the

beam members 17 and 18 are swung outwardly and con-' nected together by connecting the member 18 to the mounting-post. Next, the platform 16 is set is proper position by attaching hooks 31 to it and to selected orifices 30 in the struts 29. Next, the extensions 13 and 14' of the net cables are threaded through the respective orifices 37 and 37', interconnected to each other at eye 45, which is connected to the hook-clevis 44 of the jack 42 and the opposite ends of the cable extensions 13 and 14' are connected to the net 12. A desired elevation of the net is then established by either allowing these cable extensions to extend from the orifices 37 and 37' or by wrapping them around the adjusting pulleys 46 and 47. The lifting head of the jack is next extended and the net is pulled tightly in position.

While I have now described my invention in considerable detail it is obvious that other skilled in the art can build and devise other similar and equivalent constructions which are within the spirit and scope of my invention, hence I desire that my protection be limited, not by the details illustrated and described but only by the proper scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mounting post for a game net having upper and lower cable extensions and being adapted to be secured in an upright position at the side of a game net to hold and tense the upper and lower cable extension of the net, and including therewith, -a top passageway and a bottom passageway through the post adapted to receive the upper and lower cable extensions of a game net with each cable extension extending through its passageway from the front side of the post facing the game net to the rear side of the post, a pulley member at the rear side of the post immediately below the top passageway adapted to direct the upper cable extension downwardly, a pulley member at the rear side of the post immediately above the bottom passageway adapted to direct the lower cable extension upwardly, a third pulley at the rear side of the post adapted to change the direction of one of the cable extensions to the direction of the other cable extension to permit the cable extensions to move together as to tighten the net and a jack means afiixed to the rear side of the post and having its extension head connected to both cables and being adapted to forcibly pull and hold the cables under tension.

2. In the organization set forth in claim 1, a support arm outstanding from the rear side of the post and said jack means being afiixed to the support arm to extend in substantial spaced parallelism with the post, the extension head of said jack means adapted to move in substantial spaced parallelism with the post.

3. In the organization set forth in claim 1, a height changing means at the front side of the post adapted to reduce the height of the net by lowering the upper and lower cable extensions a selected distance and including a first pulley outstanding from the front side of the post immediately below each cable extension passageway and a second pulley immediately below each first pulley, said pulleys being adapted to receive the cable extensions with each cable extension being adapted to be wrapped outwardly with respect to the post, about its first pulley, and to be wrapped inwardly about the second pulley.

4. The organization set forth in claim 3, wherein each said second pulley is supported on the post by a singleleg bracket at one side of the pulley whereby to permit the cable extension to be placed on and removed from the pulley by positioning the cable about the pulley at the side opposite the bracket.

5. A mounting post for a game net having upper and lower cable extensions and being adapted to be secured in an upright position at the side of a game net to hold and tense the upper and lower cable extensions of the net, and including therewith, a top passageway and a bottom passageway through the post adapted to receive the upper and lower cable extensions of the game net with each cable extension extending through its passageway from the front side of the post facing the game net to the rear side of the post, a pulley member at the rear side of the post immediately below the top passageway adapted to direct the upper cable extension downwardly, a pair of pulley members at the rear side of the post immediately above the bottom passageway adapted to direct the lower cable extension upwardly and to turn the upper cable extension to an upward direction alongside the lower cable extension and a jack means having an extension head and being afiixed to the rear side of the post in a substantially upright position alongside the post with its extension head being adapted to move upwardly and being connected to both cables and thereby being adapted to forcibly move and hold the cables under tension.

6. In the organization defined in claim 5, said post including an abutment outstanding rearwardly from and 'below the bottom passageway and said jack means being affixed to stand upwardly thereon.

7. In the organization defined in claim 5, and in combination therewith, a cantilevered framework adapted to be supported on a wall of a gymnasium or the like and to hold the post outwardly from the wall and including a pair of beam members spaced apart at the wall and coming together at the post as a triangular shaped unit when viewed in plan, with the post being at the apex thereof and the jack means standing between the beam members.

8. In the organization defined in claim 7, a platform between the beam members near the apex portion back of the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,607,071 Browne Jan. 5, 1937 2,295,995 Lamb Sept. 15, 1942 2,638,346 Stapleton May 12, 1953 2,812,945 Barreca Nov. 12, 1957 2,882,101 Michalak et a1 Apr. 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,704 Great Britain 1904 

